Nitrox lessons $150 bucks--Why?

[jviehe]

That is about right for a nitrox course, and maybe more or less depending on whether dives are required.

Nitrox is definetly worth it though, and air diving will slowly move to the side. In practice, nitrox grants you longer bottom times OR shorter surface intervals. Some also experience less fatigue and narcosis. There is an increased risk of toxicity due to higher oxygen levels, however. You will be taught how to deal with all of that. Nitrox is so simple, though, that there is an online class in south florida that you can take.

However, getting a fill of nitrox can be twice as much, and if you own tanks, to use nitrox in them, you have to have them specially cleaned. You may also need a tool to check the 02 level in a tank.

 

[Warren_L]

Yes, conceptually, nitrox is fairly simple, but the consequences can be deadly without the proper training and procedures. There's a reason why you need to be certified....

 

[Diver0001]

mrnelson once bubbled...
My wife and I converted to dive computers three years ago, and the dealer promoted the units which would convert to Mixed Gas/Nitrox. He said it would be the future of diving. We have used them for about 50 dives and they are great.

This year on my birthday, my wife bought us Nitrox classes at our local shop. $150.00 each. (I thought we must be running out of SCUBA gifts, as this is all we can come up with.) We will take the class in January before our trip in March.

Other than the Blue Hole, our computers have only been used around 80' to 100' max, in waters in Cozumel, Roatan and Belize. Only once did anyone on our boats use mixed gas, and it was a pain in the ass for the rest of us as this guy would stay down, and make us drift until we had to get back in the water to take a leak.

I am just venting, but, does this Nitrox thing have any advantages? Our class is set up for January, and I would like any comments to see if this is just another way our local shops pay their rent taking advantage of us poor soles who want to smell the combination of chlorene and neophrene.

Something just smells a little fishy for us to spend $300 bucks to learn how to learn new dive tables, and then set up the computers to do the same.

Hi mrnelson,

I'll try to cut through the noise and say it as simply as possible:

The "nitrox thing" has one major advantage. Longer bottom times. That's it.

If you need to cut dives short because you're getting "NDL bound" then Nitrox will help you. If you are cutting dives short because you run out of air first then Nitrox will do (almost) nothing for you.

It's that simple.

In practice the rest is just a bunch of blah blah that makes not difference to how you dive.

There are obviously a few things you need to know about nitrox before you start diving with it. $150 is conform market price.

Hope that helps.

R..

 

[Zagnut]

..Roakey once bubbled...

Ps. Having been forced out of the water with over 2000 psi left in my cylinder due to a bunch of Hoovers on the boat, you've got the PITA thing backwards...

A guy tries to squeeze the most out of his diving vacation and he's the pain in the ass? You need to lighten up a little when your on vacation...or work on your air consumption.
If you are coming up due to NDLs, well then the benefits of Nitrox in the depth range you described becomes pretty apparent doesn't it? especially for repetitive dives. I think you answered your own question. You just have to decide if its worth the extra money for the training.

Let's see... after finishing a dive, being forced to sit on a boat in the beautiful Carribean and chit chat with other divers about what a great dive we just had... Dang!.. what a pain in the ass!!...

 

[friscuba]

I'm a bit surprised nobody's mentioned yet that many say that after diving on nitrox they actually feel better.

It used to be referred to as "geezer gas" a few years ago. I've met a lot of divers who won't touch air after having dove nitrox simply because after 2 or 3 dives in a day they're still able to stay up 'til their normal bed time.

For me, I see a huge difference in how I feel after diving 5-8 days straight on air versus the same number of dives on nitrox.

Nitrox definitely has benefits in the 50-100 foot depths as far as bottom times go. I can go into deco at 60 feet on one dive, or in multiple dives to 50 feet with an hour break between dives, on air. Nitrox will give me more than enough extra bottom time at those depths to not have to cut the dive short.

Nitrox can also be very dangerous if you don't know what you are doing. Oxygen toxiciy will kill you in fairly short order, while going into deco on air will just put you in need of an expensive trip to a chamber facility. The 150 bucks for the class is well worth the possible consequences on not having the training.

The vast majority of my diving is on air, but I'm glad I have the nitrox option.

later

Steve

 

[BouncerSMC]

jviehe once bubbled...
That is about right for a nitrox course, and maybe more or less depending on whether dives are required.

Nitrox is definetly worth it though, and air diving will slowly move to the side. In practice, nitrox grants you longer bottom times OR shorter surface intervals. Some also experience less fatigue and narcosis. There is an increased risk of toxicity due to higher oxygen levels, however. You will be taught how to deal with all of that. Nitrox is so simple, though, that there is an online class in south florida that you can take.

However, getting a fill of nitrox can be twice as much, and if you own tanks, to use nitrox in them, you have to have them specially cleaned. You may also need a tool to check the 02 level in a tank.

What is the site that offers that online Nitrox course in S. Florida? Thanks in advance for the info..

 

[IndigoBlue]

Diver0001 once bubbled...


Hi mrnelson,

I'll try to cut through the noise and say it as simply as possible:

The "nitrox thing" has one major advantage. Longer bottom times. That's it.

If you need to cut dives short because you're getting "NDL bound" then Nitrox will help you. If you are cutting dives short because you run out of air first then Nitrox will do (almost) nothing for you.

It's that simple.

In practice the rest is just a bunch of blah blah that makes not difference to how you dive. ...
R..

Diver0001, what about "more repetitive dives" as well? Particularly on live-aboards?

So if you want to cut through the blah-blah-blah would you not then say:

1. more bottom time with nitrox; AND

2. more repetitive dives.

?

 

[Diver0001]

IndigoBlue once bubbled...


Diver0001, what about "more repetitive dives" as well? Particularly on live-aboards?

So if you want to cut through the blah-blah-blah would you not then say:

1. more bottom time with nitrox; AND

2. more repetitive dives.

?

What are you talking about? More repetative dives is more bottom time. The only thing that matters is more bottom time. The rest is blah blah. don't confuse the issue.



R..

 

[Northeastwrecks]

BouncerSMC once bubbled...


What is the site that offers that online Nitrox course in S. Florida? Thanks in advance for the info..

That's just scary.

I'd be interested in the name of the course as well. That way, I can make sure that we never honor the cards.

 

[perpet1]

So I can say that more or less I agree with everything that has been said on this thread BUT I would like to add two things.

1) NITROX is just a tool to be used wehen you need it. I have been diving NITROX for 6 years and it is nice to have the option when I need it (<10% of my dives). I personally only use it when doing a lot of repetitive dives or pushing no flight limits. In both cases it just adds to my safety margin.

2) Taking the class will give you a better understanding of partial pressures and how your breathing gas actually works for you. To the guy that said "you should have learned all of this on your open water cert", I say, in an ideal world yes, but we live in reality and even if it was presented more then liklely was not covered in the depth you will have it covered in a course dedicated to it.

For these two reasons I would recommend it. I think I spent $100 six years ago so I do not think it sounds outrageous. One thing you can do to try to get a better deal is see if they can bundle an advanced class with it and give a discount on the bundle. Then do your advanced dives on nitrox. I am guessing you can get advanced and nitrox for you and your wife for <$400 which then makes it sound like a better deal.

Just a thaught,
Pete